Day 2: Embrace Serenity

I'm writing to express the gratefulness in my heart because He has helped me beat stage 3 colon cancer.  So I will continue to declare His greatness in the flesh, on paper and in this cyber blog world.

Until the whole world hears...

Embrace Serenity

A HUGE lesson I learned through my diagnosis and treatment was to take one moment at a time.  This is often a cleaver cliche or phrase we hear often that bounces off the wall, then in one ear and out the other.  The funny part is it does work if you choose to apply it.  Taking one moment at a time gives you perspective to see what is right in front of you.  How many times a day do we spend worrying about the future?  Do any of those worst case scenarios play out, actually happen?  No they don't happen.  In fact they don't even come close.  I can't go back and change the past either.  So why sit and sulk over it?  It is a waste of time and my energy. 

I constantly have to remind myself  to Selah.  Selah means to pause, take a deep breath, think and relax.  When you live one moment at a time you can fully enjoy the moment. You begin to see things through different eyes.  The Spirit is able to literally give you eyes to see as you never have before. Circumstances may be unchangeable but I can control my reaction towards them.  I have learned this is not always easy, but it is always possible.  He is able, therefore I am capable.  This enables you to pour yourself into the people around you.  Your eyes are not stuck on self but on others around you.  Bad news seems to be lurking around every corner these days.  I became accustomed to set schedules and protocols based on Doctor's orders.  Yet in the midst of these so called "planned" sessions of treatments the plans changed.  Learning to be flexible was part of my daily routine.  As a result I began to embrace the serenity prayer.  Literally I would recite this over and over in my mind or under my breath.  I wasn't in control of how my body would react to treatments or what my lab results would be.  Based on these results the Doctor's would make changes.  So days that were to be spent at the hospital turned into lunch dates with family and friends or another day of rest. 

Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.  Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace; taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your Will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You in the next. Amen
Reinhold Niebuer

Today I try my best to live one day at a time -- enjoying one moment at a time.  Time is all we have been given.  It is up to us to decide what we do with it.  When faced with your own mortality time becomes your friend and you begin to take time seriously.  None of us know when the end will come.  It is a guaranteed fact that we are all born on one day and we die on another.  It's the fraction of time in between the dash that counts. I live more freely and fully with no regrets.  I am more spontaneous and enjoy a quick wrestle match, a game of soccer on the lawn or a bike ride with my seven year old son. The laundry, dishes and dust bunnies can wait for another time. When these moments arrive I choose to embrace them.